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When the Declaration of Independence Was News

Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The Hauenstein Center will host historian Emily Sneff as she explores how the Declaration was communicated to people in the new nation and around the Atlantic world and shares stories of the many people involved in the process of declaring independence.

Eyeing the Bench: A Supreme Court Update

Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

What’s ahead for the Supreme Court? The Hauenstein Center hosts an expert panel of Supreme Court journalists to discuss the upcoming Supreme Court term.

Open Minds Book Club: When the Declaration of Independence Was News

Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The Open Minds Book Club Invites thoughtful conversation on books that seek to understand and serve the needs of our democratic society.

Hope Through History: How to Survive Turbulent Times with Jon Meacham

Date: Monday, October 5, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

The Hauenstein Center is proud to partner with the Economic Club of Grand Rapids to host award-winning historian Jon Meacham.

Midterms 101: Historical Patterns and Contemporary Stakes

Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The Hauenstein Center will convene an expert panel to discuss midterm elections in modern American history, exploring what patterns have emerged across decades, what they reveal about presidential power and public opinion.

Open Minds Book Club: Gender Flashpoints

Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The Open Minds Book Club Invites thoughtful conversation on books that seek to understand and serve the needs of our democratic society.

Veterans Day Celebration

Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The Hauenstein Center's Veterans Day celebration will feature Navy Captain J.J. Cummings, TOPGUN-trained fighter pilot and former commander of the carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.

Members Holiday Party

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

The Hauenstein Center invites its members to gather for this exclusive donor recognition event featuring a presentation from Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum director Christina Shutt.

Common Ground: The Separation of Church & State

Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2027
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

A panel of scholars examines what the founders truly believed about religion and government, and what that history means for religious liberty in America today.

Open Minds Book Club: Artificial Intimacy

Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2027
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The Open Minds Book Club Invites thoughtful conversation on books that seek to understand and serve the needs of our democratic society.

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About Our Events

Presidential Studies

Programs include discussions on presidential history, our democracy, and celebrations of national holidays like Constitution Day, Veterans Day, and Presidents' Day.

Common Ground

Common Ground events invite leaders and scholars to engage in dialogue across political and ideological divides and model the common ground approach for our community.

Wheelhouse Talks

These events feature a brilliant group of regional, state, and national leaders spanning generations, fields, and experiences.

Open Minds Book Club

Invites thoughtful conversation on books that seek to understand and serve the needs of our democratic society.

Page last modified August 4, 2026